Document Detail


The effects of privet exposure on asthma morbidity.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  7715885     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIM: To determine whether privet may be an important cause of asthma morbidity. METHODS: The study was conducted in two parts; (1) a longitudinal study of asthma symptoms, medication use, peak expiratory flow rate and airway responsiveness during and after the privet-flowering season, and (2) bronchial challenge of 17 subjects with two species of flowering privet. Subjects were asthmatics who attributed worsening asthma symptoms to privet exposure. All subjects were atopic and had perennial asthma symptoms requiring treatment with inhaled steroids and beta agonists. RESULTS: 1. Twenty subjects completed the longitudinal study. Airway responsiveness (PD20 histamine) was significantly greater during the privet-flowering season (0.4 mumol vs 0.73 mumol, p < 0.05). Symptom scores and bronchodilator use were higher and peak expiratory flow rates lower during the privet-flowering season, but the changes were small and not statistically significant. 2. Seventeen subjects from the longitudinal study subsequently had bronchial challenge studies performed. There were no isolated early responses, but six had late asthmatic responses. Eleven had no airway constrictor response to challenge with either of the two local varieties of privet. CONCLUSION: Although significant increases in airway responsiveness occur during the privet flowering season, only a proportion of this highly select group had a constrictor response to direct challenge. Privet exposure may cause bronchoconstriction in certain individuals, but it is unlikely to be responsible for a large proportion of asthma morbidity in New Zealand.
Authors:
G Richards; J Kolbe; J Fenwick; H Rea
Related Documents :
10764315 - Airway nitric oxide diffusion in asthma: role in pulmonary function and bronchial respo...
7795755 - Longitudinal study of the health of cotton workers.
140855 - Predominant site of flow limitation and mechanisms of postexertional asthma.
15978535 - Inhaled beta-agonists improve lung function but not maximal exercise capacity in cystic...
8353405 - Ergometer exercise in myoadenylate deaminase deficient patients.
23644185 - Influence of chronic moderate sleep restriction and exercise training on anxiety, spati...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The New Zealand medical journal     Volume:  108     ISSN:  0028-8446     ISO Abbreviation:  N. Z. Med. J.     Publication Date:  1995 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1995-05-16     Completed Date:  1995-05-16     Revised Date:  2010-03-24    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0401067     Medline TA:  N Z Med J     Country:  NEW ZEALAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  96-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Asthma / diagnosis,  etiology*
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
New Zealand
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
Pollen*
Skin Tests
Trees

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Foot care among diabetic patients in south Auckland.
Next Document:  An audit of the sudden infant death syndrome prevention programme in the Auckland region.